MANILA – The migrant rights group Migrante-Middle East (M-ME) has asked the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to closely coordinate with the Manila International Airport Authority just in time for next year’s integration of the terminal fee into the cost of airline tickets.
The P550 new terminal fee was agreed by MIAA and airline carriers in July this year.
“We call on POEA chief Hans Cacdac to coordinate with MIAA general manager Angel Honrado to ensure that those bonafide OFW Balik-Mangagawa will be exempted from paying the P550 terminal fee. Specifically, those who have acquired an Overseas Employment Certificate should be exempted,” said John Leonard Monterona, M-ME regional coordinator.
Monterona said the POEA Balik-Mangagawa database of OFWs should be made available and accessible online to all airline carriers as a reference for checking and validation purposes.
“Of course, we would like to ensure that upon presentation of an OEC by OFWs to the ticketing office of an air carrier of their choice they will not be forced to pay the P550 terminal fee,” Monterona pointed out.
Monterona reminded the POEA, MIAA, and airline carriers that OFWs are exempted in paying the terminal fee as mandated by a special law Republic Act 10022 otherwise known as the Amended Migrant Workers Act of 2010.
With the terminal fee collection being integrated into the airline tickets that will bring ease in checking-in of passengers, millions of OFWs will think twice now if they will book and purchase their ticket online.
“Me for instance, I usually purchase my air ticket online. But to ensure that I could avail the P550 exemption I would now go to the airline ticketing office and show them my OEC, which will serve as my exemption certificate,” Monterona said, adding, his group is still campaigning for the abolition of OEC.
Monterona noted that Labor chief Rosalinda Baldoz has promised to abolish the OEC. “We are reminding the POEA, MIAA, and the airline carriers to honor OFWs exemption on the P550 terminal fee,” he said.
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